l Maritime Craft Services – The Largs-based company is expanding its operations in Europe with the purchase of three vessels worth around £8.9 million. They will be used to service its offshore energy operations in Germany and Denmark, as well as at home, and are expected to create 30 jobs and generate up to €4m (£3.2m) turnover a year. First Minister Alex Salmond made the announcement on his return from a trade mission to Germany’s Lower Saxony province.

l Maritime Craft Services – The Largs-based company is expanding its operations in Europe with the purchase of three vessels worth around £8.9 million. They will be used to service its offshore energy operations in Germany and Denmark, as well as at home, and are expected to create 30 jobs and generate up to €4m (£3.2m) turnover a year. First Minister Alex Salmond made the announcement on his return from a trade mission to Germany’s Lower Saxony province.

l Savills – The property agent said that, while fewer Scottish rural estates have sold this year at a lower combined value, prices remained bullish. Fourteen estates have sold in Scotland in 2012, with a combined value of £37m, compared with 22 in 2011 worth £86m.

l Gemfields – An all-share deal proposed by the Aim-quoted mining firm to take control of Fabergé values the Russian jeweller, which is famed for its gem-encrusted eggs, at around £89m.

l UK Space Agency – David Willetts, the UK science minister, unveiled plans to plough £1.2 billion into European space projects, including a £16m investment in the European Space Station, and £18m in a Mars robotic exploration programme.

l HMRC – The National Audit Office (NAO) has criticised HM Revenue & Customs over a backlog of 41,000 avoidance cases it is investigating relating to £10.2bn of tax. The NAO said the tax office “must push harder to find an effective way to tackle the promoters and users of the most aggressive tax avoidance schemes”.

l Gerry Grimstone – The state-backed Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank has appointed the chairman of Standard Life as an adviser to its board, replacing Lord Davies of Abersoch.